[hp 400 dave]

Is anyone doing or planning to do any upgrades during the winter? Mine is getting painted and a new powerplant.

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by hp 400 dave

Is anyone doing or planning to do any upgrades during the winter? Mine is getting painted and a new powerplant.

Details on powerplant?

[hp 400 dave]

541 IA2 with Langer's old heads, intake, and cam. 16:1, dry sump, Book carb.

[mysticmissle]

My new block came last week. IA2 aluminum 55mm big lifters 4.35 crank grp rods, 13:1 nothing crazy, second set of wide ports and a bop. Hopefully have it screwed together and shook out, for Norwalk. If not the 540 will remain in the firebird. When new motor is done. The 540 is going back in the Gto with some nitrous.

[hp 400 dave]

Nice. How does the new aluminum block look?

[mysticmissle]

First one I have had so can’t compare. It’s way lighter than my ia2. Feels comparable to a stock block. Casting seems nice. Well know more about the machine work once my guy gets a look at it. I do not expect any issues.

[grnmnstr]

Dave, have you made any passes yet, with whatever motor you have/had in the car? I didn't see or hear anything from you this past year. PM if you want.

As you know, our Grand Am was totaled in 2016. We bought a 72 Ventura street/strip car (currently for sale, turn key) and we are now putting a 78 LeMans together to run the 10.0 index in 2019. This motor (not the one from the Grand Am) is being built now. This was the first block we used in the GA. IA2. 3.25" forged crank. This will have regular Eheads. Nothing crazy, just a maintenance free motor that will go a few hundred passes, maybe more.

[hp 400 dave]

Hey Tom. I'm glad to hear you are putting together another car. Very nice.
I haven't been out in 2 years, but i ran the car for 2 or 3 years before that. The old setup was a fixed up Larry short block at 402 ci. Chris was nice enough to Port e heads and a Victor for it. It made 660hp at 7,300 and ran 9:80 at 136. The car weighed 3,100 with me then. I was able to get my feet wet again and get my license. It had more left, but I wanted to upgrade and thought that would go smoother than it has. Every single part of the car has been changed since then.

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by hp 400 dave

541 IA2 with Langer's old heads, intake, and cam. 16:1, dry sump, Book carb.

Wow that should be loads of fun!

[hp 400 dave]

I will post the Dyno sheet when it gets there. It was getting fitted on the Dyno last week but hit a small snag. The pass header was hitting the freeze plug. I had the headers built with a stock block vs the IA. There is no extra room with the big kick out pan and dry sump. I'm waiting to hear from him about a fix for that.

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by hp 400 dave

I will post the Dyno sheet when it gets there. It was getting fitted on the Dyno last week but hit a small snag. The pass header was hitting the freeze plug. I had the headers built with a stock block vs the IA. There is no extra room with the big kick out pan and dry sump. I'm waiting to hear from him about a fix for that.

What style freeze plugs you have? I went to a brass on that screws in flush with the block so there was interference with headers.

[hp 400 dave]

Aluminum from All Pontiac. I will call him tomorrow and ask what's going on. Thanks for the info on the brass plugs. That may be my fix. Where did you get them?

[ponjohn]

Originally Posted by mysticmissle

My new block came last week. IA2 aluminum 55mm big lifters 4.35 crank grp rods, 13:1 nothing crazy, second set of wide ports and a bop. Hopefully have it screwed together and shook out, for Norwalk. If not the 540 will remain in the firebird. When new motor is done. The 540 is going back in the Gto with some nitrous.

E85?

[mysticmissle]

Most likely

[slowbird]

Originally Posted by hp 400 dave

Aluminum from All Pontiac. I will call him tomorrow and ask what's going on. Thanks for the info on the brass plugs. That may be my fix. Where did you get them?

My engine guy got them, so im not 100% sure but i think he ordered them from McMaster-Carr

[hp 400 dave]

Thanks. I'm going to check it out.

[wreckmastr]

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by wreckmastr

Nice freeze plugs

[Scott Stoneburg]

Winter upgrades/ project is to finally finish the paint on my Firebird. Ive upgraded the 474 , adding edelbrock heads and 1.6 rockers in place of the ported D-port 62s and 1.5 rockers.

[wreckmastr]

And a little paint work to touch up some battle scars